News Briefs

6/3/2012, Sivan 13, 5772

Shas Changes Tune - Will Maintain Coalition Discipline

The Sephardic hareidi-religious Shas party announced, Sunday evening that its ministers are not expected to vote for the authorization bill for Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (Shomron) if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not allow a free vote by ministers from coalition parties. A spokesman for the party said, "The partywill supportthe regulatorylawonlyifthere is freedom to vote. If there isn't,the ministerswill votelikethe other ministers."

Earlier in the evening, Shas party chairman Eli Yishai was quoted as saying his party's ministers would vote for the authorization bill, even if coalition dictated otherwise.